Overview
The Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University offers a high-quality three-year fellowship for learning and understanding the full spectrum of digestive diseases.
Clinically focused, fellows learn to provide thorough, evidence-based, consultative care, as well as mastery of a full range of endoscopic skills, and the fundamentals of clinical research.
Centrally located in the Nation’s Capital, fellows at GW encounter a wide variety of cultures, patient experiences and the full spectrum of digestive diseases. Diversity amongst our fellows and faculty members contributes to our commitment to provide a well-rounded, humanistic experience.
Fellows divide their time between the George Washington University Hospital and the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., working with experienced, dedicated faculty members. Fellows enrolled in the training program take a hands-on approach to learning. This approach is realized through clinical rotations, the outpatient experience, a dedicated mentorship program, and a state-of-the-art simulation skills lab. Fellows will gain the necessary skills to perform diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, to analyze video capsule endoscopy, and to interpret high-definition esophageal manometry.
Fellows have the opportunity to work with our talented interventional endoscopists to learn advanced skills including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), radio-frequency ablation, and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).
Upon completion of fellowship, graduates are eligible for board certification and are well trained to enter a career in clinical practice and education.
Application Information
Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Residency Applications Service (ERAS).
The candidate must register for both ERAS and the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). A candidate who has not registered with the NRMP cannot be considered during the ranking process. It is very important to remember to register.
Requirements for GW Fellowships
Fellowship applicants must have completed three years in an ACGME-Accredited Internal Medicine Residency, and be board-certified or board-eligible.
Required Documents for Complete myERAS Application
- myERAS application
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation (one from the program director)
- USMLE / COMLEX Scores (must have passed Steps I-III prior to start of fellowship year)
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
- ECFMG Status Report for International Medical Graduates (must have certification)
- Licensing Information and Board-Eligibility/Certifications (if applicable)
- Citizenship Status
International Medical Graduates
We can only consider applicants with J1 visas. Please see our GME Visa policy.
IMGs must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program.
Graduates of International Medical Schools must also be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
For more information, please contact Lisa Horvath, fellowship program coordinator, at 202.677.6056 or imfellowships@gwu.edu.
Virtual Tour: Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases
Thank you for your interest in our Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases fellowship program. While we wish we could be meeting you in person, we are thrilled to offer you this virtual tour as an opportunity to see and learn more about the facilities and resources available to our fellows.
Program Structure
Year 1
Inpatient Gastroenterology Consultation (GW Hospital)
Typically, 10 months are spent on the consultation service at GW Hospital during the first year of fellowship. Fellows on this rotation will provide inpatient consultations for patients with digestive and liver diseases. Fellows will participate in both routine and urgent endoscopic procedures for inpatient consultations. First-year fellows will learn skills to provide an effective consultation, observe the presentation and treatment of diseases that require inpatient admission, and assist with diagnostic, endoscopic exams.
Hepatology Rotation, VAMC
The remaining two months of the first year are spent on the hepatology rotation at the VAMC, DC. This rotation is comprised of both inpatient hepatology consultations and an outpatient hepatology experience. The outpatient component includes a general hepatology clinic, viral hepatitis clinics, and an HIV/HCV co-infection clinic. Fellows will assist with outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic paracenteses and liver biopsies.
Outpatient, Ambulatory Rotation
First-year fellows will rotate through an outpatient clinic with the director of the division. This clinic allows fellows to learn aspects of outpatient care including performing the outpatient consultation, documentation, and coordination of care.
Years 2 and 3
Inpatient Gastroenterology Consultation (GW Hospital)
Typically, two-to-three months are spent on the consultation service at GW Hospital during the each of the second and third years of fellowship. Fellows on this rotation will provide inpatient consultations for patients with digestive and liver diseases. Fellows will participate in both routine and urgent endoscopic procedures for inpatient consultations. The focus for second and third year fellows will be enhancing consultative care, supervising and instructing junior fellows, residents and medical students, and assisting with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic exams.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consultation (IBD)
Two-to-three months in the second and third year are spent on the IBD service at GW Hospital. During this rotation, the fellow will be responsible for consulting on IBD patients admitted to the hospital. The focus will be evaluating and learning about complications and manifestations of IBD that require hospital admission. Fellows will also be exposed to aspects of the post-operative care of IBD patients. Fellows will rotate in at least one outpatient clinic per week, learning features of outpatient IBD care, participating in outpatient endoscopic procedures for IBD patients, and organizing an IBD-case conference.
Sub-specialty Rotation
Fellows will rotate through the subspecialty rotation three to four times per year. During this rotation, fellows will learn the appropriate indication, implementation and interpretation of wireless capsule endoscopy, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and impedance studies, and esophageal manometry. Fellows on this rotation will also have the opportunity to participate in outpatient endoscopic procedures including advanced procedures including ERCP, EUS, placement of luminal stents and EMR. During the sub-specialty rotation, fellows will attend a clinic focused on a particular subspecialty each week.
Outpatient, Continuity Clinic
The fellow will be assigned to continuity clinic with a specific attending during fellowship. This clinic allows fellows to learn aspects of outpatient care including performing the outpatient consultation, documentation, and coordination of care.
On-Call
Fellows will be assigned to an on-call schedule throughout fellowship. The on-call fellow will be partnered with an attending during the call period who is available at any time to discuss clinic scenarios, evaluate patients, and perform emergency procedures at night, on weekends, and during holidays. All procedures are performed under the supervision of an attending.